Bellingham DPW partners with Kids Workshop to promote conservation

Sunday

Aug 3, 2014 at 8:00 AM

By Bill ShanerDaily News Staff

BELLINGHAM – Water, water everywhere. At The Home Depot, Bellingham’s Department of Public Works partnered with the monthly Kids Workshop to host the "We’re For Water" event yesterday afternoon. Appropriately enough, rain was falling outside.

The event featured an information booth from the DPW, free water testing sign-ups from Kinetico Water Systems and samples of products that help to reduce home water usage, as well as a cotton candy machine, face painting and a mini-crate pencil holder construction station for kids.

"Our goal is to promote water sense and conservation in all forms," said Stacey Wetstein, Bellingham DPW’s public outreach and education coordinator.

We’re For Water is a program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It intends to education consumers on choices they can make to conserve water and promotes a WaterSense label, which signifies products the EPA supports.

Children took turns posing for photos with "Flo," a blue plush toy water gallon the EPA has branded the We’re For Water "spokesgallon."

They also participated in the face painting and building activities The Home Depot hosts every month as part of their national program Kids Workshop.

"Home Depot has been a great partner. They've been extremely easy and fun to work with," Wetstein said.

Jeff Belmore, of Bellingham, has been taking his seven-year-old daughter Kayla to the Kids Workshop almost every time it’s been offered since Kayla was three.

He said they do it because it’s a great way to get out of the house. He also curates a Facebook album with a picture of Kayla after every project she completes at the workshop. The album has hundreds of pictures and shows her grow from age three to seven.

Kayla echoed his enthusiasm.

"I really like that I get to spend time with my daddy and make stuff," she said, sporting an apron with dozens of pins.

Children get a pin, apron and certificate for every time they participate in the event.

After the event’s success, the DPW hopes to partner with The Home Depot more often, Wetstein said.

The DPW has also partnered with the Hocomock YMCA in North Attleborough, where Wetstein goes once a week to provide information on We’re For Water.

Wetstein said she recently heard from Donald DiMartino, the director of Bellingham’s DPW, who said Bellingham’s water usage is down significantly from where it was last year.

"We must be doing something right," she said.

Wetstein, who is also Bellingham’s town planner, has been active in spreading We’re For Water information since March of this year.

Bill Shaner can be reached at 508-634-7582 or at wshaner@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bshaner_MDN.